The Forgotten Group Member

Case Study Write-Up–ONLY USE THE TEXTBOOK AND BELOW CASE STUDY TO SUPPORT YOUR ANSWERS TO YOUR QUESTIONS. REMEMBER NOT TO WRITE YOUR PAPER ON FIRST PERSON) You are required to analyze this week’s case study ” The forgotten group member” and submit a 2–3 page paper addressing the key questions identified. Remember that all case studies present both too much and too little information. There may be information presented that is not really relevant, and there may be scant information about a key area. This analysis does require interpretation of the information and there is not “one” right answer. However, you must explain and defend any assumptions you made and\or conclusions resulting from your analysis with citations from the text or from the case itself. There is no need to research outside sources for this paper. Your paper MUST include the following labeled sections: Part I: Group Development (Identify and summarize the stages of group development) Reflecting on the case and textbook material (Organizational Behavior 11th Edition by Schermerhorn / Hunt / Osborn / Uhl-Bien © 2010 John Wiley and Sons, Inc.), what stage is the group at now? How could an understanding of the stages of group development have assisted Christine in her leadership role with this team? Support your conclusion with evidence from the case and our text. Part II: Problem Identification Identify key problems. Identify primary and secondary problems the group and/or Christine are facing. Identify what Christine should have understood about individual membership in teams in order to have built group processes that were supportive of her workgroup’s performance. Do not necessarily limit yourself to only team theory here. Plumb any concepts we have covered to date in class if you feel they are relevant. Part III: Retrospective Evaluation Given that there is no “one perfect solution” for this situation, identify, describe, and defend two possible solutions to the primary problem(s). Clearly identify and defend both courses of action. Identity and discuss specific steps needed to implement your selections. Support your selections with evidence from the case, the text, and/or weekly discussion. Remember that deciding on a course of action entails envisioning and planning the steps to success. Be sure to identify implementation steps for both possible solutions. Almost every situation presented with relation to group dynamics and behavior can have multiple avenues for remedy. It is important to develop the ability to critically evaluate more than one alternative and rationally identify pros and cons of each. Presenting pros and cons for the identified alternative solutions in a table format within the paper is acceptable. Part IV: Reflection -Discuss whether Christine was an effective group leader in this case. Why or Why not? “The forgotten Group member” CASE STUDY Developed by Franklin Ramsoomair, Wilfred Laurier University The Organizational Behavior course for the semester appeared to promise the opportunity to learn, enjoy, and practice some of the theories and principles in the textbook and class discussions. Christine Spencer was a devoted, hard-working student who had been maintaining an A??-average to date. Although the skills and knowledge she had acquired through her courses were important, she was also very concerned about her grades. She felt that grades were paramount in giving her a competitive edge when looking for a job and, as a third-year student, she realized that she’d soon be doing just that. Sunday afternoon. Two o’clock. Christine was working on an accounting assignment but didn’t seem to be able to concentrate. Her courses were working out very well this semester, all but the OB. Much of the mark in that course was to be applied to the quality of groupwork, and so she felt somewhat out of control. She recollected the events of the past five weeks. Professor Sandra Thiel had divided the class into groups of five people and had given them a major group assignment worth 30 percent of the final grade. The task was to analyze a seven-page case and to come up with a written analysis. In addition, Sandra had asked the groups to present the case in class, with the idea in mind that the rest of the class members would be “members of the board of directors of the company” who would be listening to how the manager and her team dealt with the problem at hand. Christine was elected “Team Coordinator” at the first group meeting. The other members of the group were Diane, Janet, Steve, and Mike. Diane was quiet and never volunteered suggestions, but when directly asked, she would come up with high quality ideas. Mike was the clown. Christine remembered that she had suggested that the group should get together before every class to discuss the day’s case. Mike had balked, saying “No way!! This is an 8:30 class, and I barely make it on time anyway! Besides, I’ll miss my Happy Harry show on television!” The group couldn’t help but laugh at his indignation. Steve was the businesslike individual, always wanting to ensure that group meetings were guided by an agenda and noting the tangible results achieved or not achieved at the end of every meeting. Janet was the reliable one who would always have more for the group than was expected of her. Christine saw herself as meticulous and organized and as a person who tried to give her best in whatever she did. It was now week 5 into the semester, and Christine was deep in thought about the OB assignment. She had called everyone to arrange a meeting for a time that would suit them all but seemed to be running into a roadblock. Mike couldn’t make it, saying that he was working that night as a member of the campus security force. In fact, he seemed to miss most meetings and would send in brief notes to Christine, which she was supposed to discuss for him at the group meetings. She wondered how to deal with this. She also remembered the incident last week. Just before class started, Diane, Janet, Steve, and she were joking with one another before class. They were laughing and enjoying themselves before Sandra came in. No one noticed that Mike had slipped in very quietly and had unobtrusively taken his seat. She recalled the cafeteria incident. Two weeks ago, she had gone to the cafeteria to grab something to eat. She had rushed to her accounting class and had skipped breakfast. When she got her club sandwich and headed to the tables, she saw her OB group and joined them. The discussion was light and enjoyable as it always was when they met informally. Mike had come in. He’d approached their table. “You guys didn’t say you were having a group meeting,” he blurted. Christine was taken aback. “We just happened to run into each other. Why not join us?” Mike looked at them, with a noncommittal glance. “Yeah .right,” he muttered, and walked away. Sandra Thiel had frequently told them that if there were problems in the group, the members should make an effort to deal with them first. If the problems could not be resolved, she had said that they should come to her. Mike seemed so distant, despite the apparent camaraderie of the first meeting. An hour had passed, bringing the time to 3 P.M., and Christine found herself biting the tip of her pencil. The written case analysis was due next week. All the others had done their designated sections, but Mike had just handed in some rough handwritten notes. He had called Christine the week before, telling her that in addition to his course and his job, he was having problems with his girlfriend. Christine empathized with him. Yet, this was a group project! Besides, the final mark would be peer evaluated. This meant that whatever mark Sandra gave them could be lowered or raised, depending on the group’s opinion about the value of the contribution of each member. She was definitely worried. She knew that Mike had creative ideas that could help to raise the overall mark. She was also concerned for him. As she listened to the music in the background, she wondered what she should do.

ANSWER

                                  THE FORGOTTEN GROUP MEMBER

To develop means to improve the state, condition and appearance of something to become better than before. Group development, is therefore, a process by which something is improved and made better by a group of many people, more than one person. A group of people come together to combine efforts and better the condition of the problem at hand.

According to the case study, there is group development that is noted. There are also varied stages of the group development. These group developments are greatly promoted and enhanced by Christine who heads her group, as she is selected the team coordinator at the first group meeting. To start with, the group had to meet early in the morning before the normal classes resume. This is viewed as a development since the group has set apart some time to discuss and clarify their group assignments. Every member’s work is gone through, corrections are made where necessary and then a fair copy is written down. To add to that, every meeting attended by the members was guided by an agenda. Any tangible result that is achieved or not achieved is recorded down. This work is carried out by Steve. Moreover, the group has a very reliable source of ideas and information. The ideas and information are provided by Janet. Furthermore, the group has an organized and hardworking group leader who always thinks of the best for her group. In summary, the group has development in stages; meeting time is improved to be early in the morning for clarification of any doubts and corrections. Secondly, there is agenda issue brought about by Steve. The agenda serves to make sure that the group achieves something at the end of every meeting. Thirdly, the group has a reliable source of data and information from Janet. Lastly, the group has a very hardworking and organized group coordinator.

There are problems experienced by Christine and the group at large. This main and only problem emanates from Mike. Mostly, Mike does not cooperate with Christine and the group in general. He does his assignments roughly without care and withdraws Christine’s suggestion that the group has to meet before classes. The group also fails to sit down to advise Mike or take him to Sandra. In addition to that, Christine fails to understand Mike’s problem at first. She has to understand that Janet is committed member who wants the best for her group and Steve is very objective in his undertakings. She is also supposed to understand that Mike is a person who does like education all the time, especially, the odd academic hours. After knowing this, she properly understands how to deal with them for good performance of the team.

One solution to the problems in the team is clear; Christine is supposed to get suggestions from the group about the suitable extra time the group ought to meet. Here, every member suggests the suitable time and then they come to a conclusion after a short discussion. This helps since no one limited to suggest. Another solution is for the team coordinator to choose officials for group. There ought to be a secretary to note down the fair copy after discussion, a timekeeper and a person to present after the discussion. This job allocation makes the members concerned since everybody is to blame when his/her duty is not carried out accordingly.

The group has to take an action for its smooth running and achievement of its objectives after every discussion meeting. The group is supposed to advice Mike concerning his relationship with his girlfriend. If Mike fails to change, then the group has to approach Sandra for her verdict decision concerning the matter at hand. This action has to be taken for the benefit of both the group and Mike personally. For any complain to be well solved, it has to follow the protocol that is required. This is always from the juniors to the seniors. So, the other group members are supposed to advice Mike at first. If they are unable, they inform Christine then finally to Sandra.

If the group adheres to the solutions and the ways to approach problems illustrated above, then it will move ahead with great ease with less regrets. The group needs to plan before and after every meeting to eradicate any form of turmoil. Whenever a member messes up in the group, he/she has to be listened to before judgment is on made. If these solutions and the protocol observed so that they are implemented, then the group will be propelled to greater heights.

From the case study, Christine is an effective leader. This is because she is very hardworking and an organized coordinator. She is also committed as she suggests that an extra time is supposed to be created to affect the group. Christine does not lose her temper even when objected by Mike. She does not rush the matter to Sandra when Mike defies her. She is a good group leader since he is eventually approached by Mike for advice concerning her relationship with her girlfriend.